CAST Closes On Former Southold Opera House, Finds New Home

SOUTHOLD, NY—A former Methodist church that was reborn as the Southold Opera House will now begin yet another new chapter — Community Action of Southold Town, which provides services to those in need, announced Wednesday that it had closed on the sale of the building for $2.8 million.

Next, CAST said, a capital campaign is set to kick-off to garner funds for the building's future.

Community members helped to facilitate the sale, donating to CAST's "Build What Matters" campaign, representatives of the organizaton said. So far, CAST has raised $2.2 million, nearly 75 percent of its $3 million capital campaign goal, and hopes to raise the remaining 25 percent in the next year, a release said.

The initial round of fundraising made it possible for CAST to close on the former church, which will become the not-for-profit's new home —and ensuring that CAST can continue to efficiently and effectively provide essential programs and services to those in need.

CAST serves nearly 10 percent of Southold's population, including seniors "and many hard-working families that are the invisible thread that keeps the North Fork together," the release said.

“CAST is a powerful force on the North Fork — responding to the needs of the vulnerable and helping families build a better future,” said Kevin O’Connor, CEO of Dime Community Bank.

CAST's new location on Main Road in Southold means greater accessibility and parking, as well as space for an expanded food pantry and sharing room for clothing and household items. The new facility will also allow for more room for education programs for both children and adults, private meeting and interview spaces, a teaching kitchen for culinary and hospitality training, a community garden to grow fresh food, and arts and cultural programs.

CAST plans to reopen its doors as the Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation.

“Signing the papers to close on the former Southold Opera House is a dream realized,” Marc Sokol, CAST board president, said.

CAST also received a grant from the NY Empire State Economic Development Fund for a portion of the funding.

Empire State Development Chief Operating Officer and Executive Deputy Commissioner Kevin Younis said, "This project is an important investment to address regional workforce development capacity, food insecurity, educational programs, and more."

Cathy Demeroto, CAST executive director, thanked the many who donated to make the dream a reality and said the goal remains providing services so people can achieve self-sufficiency.

“We look forward to welcoming all of our neighbors and friends into our new home with hopes that it will truly be a meeting place and resource center for the entire community. Whether people come for services, to volunteer, take a class, or enjoy a musical performance, our doors will always be open to all,” said Demeroto.

In 2015, when Anne-Julia Audray, along with her husband Oliver Chazareix, purchased the former Southold United Methodist Church on Main Road in Southold for just over $1 million, she had many plans for the church, first built in 1794.

Her dream, said Audray, an opera singer and executive director of the Long Island Opera Company, was to create a home for not just members of her company but community members and visiting artists, where she could offer opera and other musical performances and classes. She'd also hoped to create a B&B and French cafe at the space.

Audray and her husband worked for years on renovations and repairs, breathing new life into the church and manse.

Donations To help further CAST's misson can be made online at "Build What Matters Capital Campaign – Community Action Southold Town" or by mail; naming sponsorships are still available. Checks, made payable to the CAST Capital Campaign, can be mailed to Cathy A. Demeroto, Build What Matters Campaign, P.O. Box 159, Greenport, NY 11944.